Robert Clouse's clearest achievement was giving Bruce Lee room to perform. We value his clear, lively handling of action, especially in Enter the Dragon, but the storytelling between fights gives us less reason to linger.
Fi1m perspective
Bruce Lee has room to move in Enter the Dragon (1973), and we have time to watch what he does. Robert Clouse keeps the fights clear, allowing Lee's speed and precision to become pleasures in themselves. We were delighted by Lee's physical assurance and impatient whenever the spy plot took over. The ordinary writing is a real limitation, but Clouse has the sense not to complicate the action when his leading man is giving us so much to watch.
The film established him in action and martial arts. He had begun with shorts, including The Legend of Jimmy Blue Eyes (1964), before moving into features in 1970. Jim Kelly returned from Enter the Dragon for Black Belt Jones (1974), and Clouse later worked with Jackie Chan on The Big Brawl (1980). Cynthia Rothrock led China O'Brien (1990). His recurring choice of martial artists as leads gave audiences a clear reason to turn up.
In Enter the Dragon, Clouse also judges the tone well. Lalo Schifrin's rhythmic music keeps the routine spy business from becoming solemn, and Shih Kien's Han gives the adventure a suitably broad antagonist. Clouse does not treat every exchange as important, which makes the thin dialogue easier to live with. We can enjoy the villain's presence without needing much subtlety from him. The trouble is that the intrigue gives us little to care about beyond the next bout.
Game of Death (1978) made the dependence on Lee particularly plain: Clouse completed it with archival footage, stand-ins and new material after Lee's death. That was a practical challenge quite different from directing a performer who could respond to him. Later films drew criticism for formulaic plotting and weak characterisation, faults already apparent in the spy passages of Enter the Dragon. Start with that film, provided the fighting matters more to you than the intrigue.
Biography
Robert Clouse (6 March 1928 – 4 February 1997) was an American film director and producer. He began his career as a still photographer before directing short films, including The Cadillac (1962) and The Legend of Jimmy Blue Eyes (1964), both nominated for Academy Awards. His feature debut was Darker than Amber (1970).
Clouse is best known for directing Enter the Dragon (1973), starring Bruce Lee. After Lee’s death he completed and released Game of Death (1978) using existing footage and new material. Other credits include Black Belt Jones (1974), The Ultimate Warrior (1975), The Big Brawl (1980) and Gymkata (1985). He also wrote the book Bruce Lee: The Biography (1989).
